The Tom Joyner Foundation, Inc. and Blacks In Government, Inc. (BIG) today announced a strategic alliance to assist students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) interested in pursuing careers in local, state, or federal government.
The “BIG Collegiate Initiative” will be launched as part of BIG’s Senior Future Leaders In America’s Government (FLAG) program. BIG’s Senior FLAG provides guidance and mentoring to college students throughout the nation. Through the strategic alliance with the Tom Joyner Foundation, BIG will establish Senior FLAG programs at HBCUs. Anyone interested in learning more or donating to support the program can go to TomJoynerFoundation.org.
“We’re very excited to work with BIG,” said Thomas Joyner, Jr., president and CEO of the Tom Joyner Foundation. “We share a common mission in making sure that students at HBCUs have access to a broad range of opportunities. This partnership will help open the doors for these students to careers in government at all levels.”
The program is composed of five tiers: Mentoring; Training Academy; Career Training and Education; Pre-Professional Career Opportunities (Internships); and College Scholarships. The Tom Joyner Foundation serves as the primary liaison with each HBCU and coordinates the scholarship application and award process with BIG.
Dr. Doris P. Sartor, Ph.D., national president of Black In Government, Inc., said, “Blacks In Government is proud to be part of this strategic alliance with the Tom Joyner Foundation and looks forward to its successful implementation.”
Regions, chapters, and individual BIG members who are interested in establishing new Senior FLAG programs, please contact the National FLAG Coordinator, Ms. Kathy Best via email, BIGFutureleaders@gmail.com. She can also be contacted at 202-667-3280. Guidelines for establishing FLAG programs are located on the BIG website at www.bignet.org.
To make a donation to BIG, complete the form below. Donations will be used for scholarship support of HBCU students engaged in BIG programs, which will prepare them for application and employment in government positions.